These last lingering days of September find us busily harvesting the best of summer’s bounty…gathering, sorting, sharing, and “putting by” or “putting up” as our grandmother’s called it. Trying our best to hold onto that flavor. You know what I mean, that flavor…a warm garden tomato or the sweetness of just-picked corn. There’s nothing like farm-to-table, or better yet, backyard-to-table!
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Hazy, hot & humid…the 3 H’s that have become the norm as August unfolds here in my part of the Midwest. Each day feels as if it’s in slow motion…work is getting done, but at a pace that has kept me behind on my to-do list. Barn cats can be found snoozing in the shade more than usual, and even songbirds at the birdbath seem to linger, simply enjoying the cool water. After a long stretch of rainless days, the garden is in need of daily watering, fields are dusty, and once green grass is beginning to look parched.
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TheCrankyCrow says: What a great summer program for the kids! Growing up on a farm with a huge garden, I never much thought about other kids not having that farm to table experience…I only thought them fortunate to not have to plant, weed, and clean and scrub those prickly cucumbers. 😉 Lovely photos as always. Is that really your pantry of canned goods? If so, wow…and more wow. All the same sized jars, all those gorgeous zinc lids! Nothing prettier than canned goods all in a row – but this is beyond “pretty.” WAY beyond. We had a good rain last night too…and temps are on the downslide. Heard we’re only to be in the 60’s again in a day or two. I’m not done with summer yet either, but the trees are whispering otherwise. ~Robin~
Mary Murray says: Hi Robin, always love seeing you stop by! I agree…it was great to see the kids love to spend time gardening (even in this summers horrid heat) and my son was having a good time as well – and cooking with what they’d grown was terrific for them all! No, I wish it was! The pantry is in a local living history farmhouse…I LOVE it and could move right in! I’ll show you mine soon…it’s similar (those old wooden shelves in a cellar must be the norm for 19th century houses) but it’s inspired me to fill my shelves up! Yes, those zinc lids-sigh! It was 43 here the other night…I’m hoping for a long fall…always my favorite season! Catch up with you soon, Mary
daisy says: I enjoyed every word of this post. What a fabulous program for those young folks to learn life-long skills that will serve them well. Very inspirational. Continued blessings…
Mary Murray says: Hi Daisy – thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them. The program is amazing, and only in it’s second year, I hope it keeps growing and inspiring young people! And you’re right…those skills will last them throughout their lives…what a blessing. So glad those garden-loving adults are leading the way!
Janice says: This is a great post reading about the students and their community garden. So glad they were able to reap their rewards. We had severe weather last night and thankfully no damage. The canned goods are so pretty and will be good way to saving money. Janice
Mary Murray says: Janice – thanks so much…I’m so impressed by the youth, and watching them chat with people at the Farmers’ Market was great too…spreading the word through their excitement. They can be so proud! Canning is in full swing here…and absolutely, money saving, and we know exactly what’s in those jars! Hope the bad weather has passed, we must be headed to cool, beautiful autumn days soon. Take care, Mary
Mid-summer…these early harvest days have a busyness to them that begins early and ends late. There are gardens to tend, beans to snap, and corn to shuck. Weeds need pulling, grass needs mowing, and hay needs stacking. July days are hot and sun-soaked, and by day’s end, often come with rumblings of thunder bringing much-needed rain.
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Ladybug loves lilacs says: Love seeing how you weave your herbs! There is nothing like fresh straight from the garden. Thanks for sharing how to easily dry them.
Mary Murray says: Good morning! You’re so right – fresh is always so nice…and drying them is really easy. The weaving is fun to make with a group of girlfriends…one gal I know used a tall, skinny frame and it was a perfect fit for her old chimney cupboard! Thanks for stopping by to visit, Mary
Lynette says: I love the idea of herb weaving. I’m going to try this. Thank you for sharing this.
Mary Murray says: Hi Lynette – let me know how yours turns out! I’d love to hear what herbs you used – maybe one weaving with Italian herbs and one with Mediterranean herbs! I like using the frame – there’s so many great designs and colors to choose from. Leaving the frame in place is great for beginners, but there‘s also a way to remove the frame if you want to while the herbs are still fresh – just let me know and I can share those how-to instructions if you’d like them. Mary
Dori Troutman says: I love this post Mary!!! And I’m DYING over the herb weaving. I just want to sit down with YOU and YOUR herbs and learn!
Mary Murray says: Oh Dori, we need a good, old-fashioned girls only day! Some stitching, some herb weavings, some food…I see a whole lot of fun!
TheCrankyCrow says: Your posts are just amazing!! Your captured “summer” perfectly! I love your kitchen herb patch. (It’s beautiful as well as fragrant and useful!). My herb garden isn’t outside my door – it’s in my son’s old sandbox LOL, but I love having it. I usually band my herbs together and have started hanging them from the curtain rods in my kitchen, although I do have a little wooden herb drying rack I use as well. Love the sauce and salt recipes as well…will definitely give them a go. And herb weaving…ok, that’s new to me. I’ve heard of and have done lavender wands but it’s different than this. Great ideas, great post! ~Robin~
Mary Murray says: Hi Robin, always appreciate it when you pop over here! Having your garden in a sandbox is a great idea…it means everything’s contained and keeps most of the weeds out. And yes, I LOVE seeing herbs hanging in windows…it reminds me of a quieter time and simpler life. Just what we all could use more of these days…thanks for the reminder. Mary
Jules says: I have a large box of tomatoes that need using up, so I will be making the pasta sauce later. Thank you.
Also, the herb weaving looks amazing. What a great idea! Xx
Mary Murray says: I hope you like the recipe, Jules…be sure to let me know. It’s simple to make the ingredient amounts however you like so it’s just right for you – add or delete anything you please. I’m thinking I may try and cook it down just a little in a Dutch oven to make it thicker for pizza sauce…something we always need around here! Thanks to visiting, Mary
daisy says: What a lovely picture of summer you have created. The herb weaving is genius! What a beautiful gift it would make as well.
Thank you for reminding me that beyond the heat and humidity, there is much to celebrate about this season. Mighty blessings…
Mary Murray says: Daisy, my fellow gardener…thanks for coming by to comment! I’m sure you could whip up an herb weaving in no time at all…let me know if you do. And you’re right…the heat and humidity lately have been a trial, but when I hear the mockingbirds at twilight or see the fireflies, it reminds me to take a step back and be grateful. Mary
Staci says: Such a sweet sweet post and I LOVE the herb weaving. A great idea!
Mary Murray says: Hi Staci, thanks so much! I’m so grateful for the lady who taught me to make an herb weaving ages ago…she sparked an interest in herbs for a 20-something girl that’s stayed with me for decades. I’m hoping I can share her ideas and pass that love along to someone else. Mary
Some country pleasures never seem to change…sunny June brings us plump strawberries, crisp lettuce, and bright Tiger Lilies that pop up almost overnight along country roads. On these perfect June days, one of my favorite sounds can be heard through the screen door…the snap of freshly-washed sheets billowing in the breeze. And as twilight approaches, I’m enchanted by fireflies and their magical dances.
With these warm and dry summer days, and the threat of a late frost now over, the vegetable garden is in. It’s always interesting to hear, even in our modern world, farmers talk about planting by the “phases of the moon.” And while I see fields of some crops flourish and other fields less so, it does make me wonder if that age-old practice just might have some truth to it. Technology allows us to find the answers to all our gardening questions in an instant. However; ignoring the farming advice that’s been passed down through the generations would be a shame. Perhaps next year I’ll take a closer look at sowing by the phases of the moon and just see what happens!
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Joan Piercy says: Wonderful ideas! Love your YART/JART. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Murray says: Hi Joan, I’m glad you liked the ideas…I hope you found something you can use. Thanks a bunch for visiting!
Debbie Fischer says: All your found treasures repurposed are so unique and lovely. I too love Yart/Jart and reuse vintage pieces often for the down home country look.
Thank you for giving me a few more ideas.
Enjoy summer Mary.
Mary Murray says: Debbie, so glad to find a Yart/Jart kindred spirit! It’s fun to try and see how to work those old pieces in. Please share some of your ideas – I’d love to know!
Donna Carroll says: I have just started receiving your magazine and I love your blog. My sister her husband and I bought a 140 year old stone farmhouse near Studley Kansas. The history of this place and the people who built it is very heartwarming. Something of which we all need in the times we live in. The property is beautiful and so is the house. It is a dream come true for us. I look forward to learning all I can from you and your readers. Always Donna Carroll
Mary Murray says: Welcome Donna, we’re so glad you’ve joined us! The stone farmhouse sounds wonderful…don’t you just love the history and workmanship that come with an old house? And I couldn’t agree more; learning about the past is heartwarming (a terrific word, thank you!) in these fast-paced times. Again, so happy you’re here!
Karen Martell says: I love the Yart/Jart concept! 🙂 I’ve been using an old stock pot and an old canner to plant flowers in for a few years! I love the rusty, aged look…especially when brimming with beautiful geraniums! 🙂
Mary Murray says: Hi Karen, what a good idea – both the stockpot and canner are so roomy, they’d look terrific filled with flowers! I love that you “cheated the landfill!” So glad you shared your clever idea…I think I have an old canner that just might work – I’ll be looking for it – thanks for sharing your Yart/Jart!
Jules says: I’ve never heard of yart or jart before. I love how you’ve repurposed everything, especially that potato masher. Xx
Mary Murray says: Hi Jules…the words are silly I know, my daughter and I made them up (at least I’ve never heard them before) just to describe all the “things” that seem to need a new purpose. So glad you like the potato masher – I’ve seen old metal teapots and tin measuring cups used as well…I think anything is a windchime possibility!
TheCrankyCrow says: One of my most favorite posts yet, I think. Not only are your ideas and creativity in repurposing the old amazing, your photos are absolutely stunning! I have always used landfill-bound items for my gardening and yard decor. For years, my husband joked that he and our son had to hide their workboots at night or they’d wake up and find them planted with something. Eventually, however, he “caught on” and started bringing things home for me to use. Almost all my annuals are planted in old metal ware, etc. but my prized possession is my “cornzebo” – an old corncrib we converted to a gazebo (complete with a chandelier LOL). ~Robin~ (PS – I grew up on dairy farm too – we had pails like the one on your arbor bench. We used it to feed calves milk if, for some reason they couldn’t feed from their mothers – or supplements that were mixed with water, etc. – if needed. A nipple type thing was attached to the spout.)
Mary Murray says: Oh, thank you so much Robin for the kind compliments…outdoor photography has always been fun for me. And I have a kindred spirit in Jart/Yart – I filled the kids’ polka-dot rain boots with flowers when they outgrew them… I agree – anything is fair game! Now about your Cornzebo – you are a mind reader. I am SO jealous…I’ve wanted one for years! I have it all planned out in my mind…I’d screen it in (awful mosquitoes in summer here) and then put either a round picnic table inside, or some chairs for relaxing. And a chandelier – why, of course!! Okay Robin, you’ve inspired me…I’ve seen a “lonely” one beside a field not far from here – I’ll knock on the nearest farmhouse door and see if it’s for sale. Not sure how it could be moved, but we’ll cross that bridge if we get to it – thanks for giving me a little nudge that direction!
daisy says: So many great ideas! I made a wind chime out of old, rusting canning rings. I also have an affinity for enamelware. The cabinet turned farmstand is delightful!
Hope your summer is going just the way you like it! Continued blessings…
Mary Murray says: A canning ring wind chime is a clever idea, Daisy…I love it, and the more rust, the better! Thank you..the cabinet was free and it only took some spray paint and two supports for the ribbon garland to spruce it up – so easy. Since that picture was taken, I made a platform with wheels to help move it around easier – that’s the hardest part, keeping it upright as it bumps along on the gravel! Happy summer wishes to you, too – thanks for stopping here to visit.
Cathy says: I was into jart before it was a thing. I have always loved the unusual.
Cathy
Mary Murray says: You’re ahead of your time, Cathy, and I’m sure some of your yart/jart inspired others to do the same! Some things are just too “valuable” for me to toss. No, not for the money they would bring, but just because I have always loved old things. That rusty horseshoe and leaky laundry tub will never be used for their original purposes again, but that’s okay…they make my heart happy. So glad yart/jart is catching on!
Staci says: Such a sweet post filled with so many ideas! I love it all and that little farmstand is absolutely adorable. 💗
Mary Murray says: Thanks so much, Staci! It’s amazing what can be found for free…and a little spray paint makes all the difference. I did keep the sink that was with it…someday it will be in my “dream” kitchen. It’s like the clawfoot tub that was tucked in the dark recesses of our basement. I refuse to give up…somehow I will restore it and haul it up two flights of stairs to the bathroom!
May…like a butterfly she flits up and down, undecided just where she will land. She teases with warm Spring showers, then surprises us with frosty nights that feel like late October. Each day May dances somewhere between sun-kissed celebrations and cozy sweater-weather.
Continue reading TheCrankyCrow says: I couldn’t love this post more! Each and every one reminds me of the nostalgic sights, tastes, and feel of growing up in a simpler time and a simpler way. Your little milkhouse stand looks amazing. I’d be a way-too-frequent visitor. Wish someone would do that in these parts! ~Robin~
Mary Murray says: Oh Robin, you say the nicest things…I’d love to have you as a “way-to-frequent” visitor! Hmmm, take a look around next time you’re out and see if there’s not a little produce stand nearby, it might be just off a main road and a little hard to spot. I hope you can find one. And I agree…I’m drawn to those sweet, simple ways as well – kindred spirits!
Kim Steckler says: Your milkhouse baked goods shop looks so inviting! You did a great job of revamping and repurposing. I wish I could stop by, but it would be a bit of a drive (I live in Arizona)! I can at least enjoy the photos.
Mary Murray says: Thanks Kim for the kind words…the before pictures are a bit scary! I love that we get the chance to visit here, even though it’s across the miles…we can still share ideas and cheer each other on!
Debbie Fischer says: Mary, I love your Farm Stand and the Milk house, so Farmgirl and cheerful. I certainly would stop for a visit sit a spell and chat if I lived in your area. And who doesn’t love home grown veggies and apple pie.
Enjoy your summer and have fun with your new Venture.
Mary Murray says: Hi Debbie – thank you for stopping by! I have a friend who grew up on a dairy farm, so it was terrific to have her nearby to answer questions about items I found in the milkhouse. And I love that saying: “sit a spell” we don’t hear that nearly enough, and it’s something that we could all do more often… a good, old-fashioned stress reliever! Thanks for the reminder.
Sylvia Jacobus says: Wished I lived nearby!
Mary Murray says: Awww, thanks Sylvia…see if you can’t find a roadside stand near where you live. I guarantee the gal (or guy!) who runs it would love to tell you all about their veggies or flowers, and maybe there’s a home-baked pie just waiting to go home with you!
Lynette says: What a wonderful story. I love your ideas and wish I lived in the country to set up a farm stand.
Mary Murray says: Hi Lynette – double-check your local guidelines, some farm stands are set up in suburban areas, too! Think of it like an old-fashioned lemonade stand, only with your extra veggies, Mason jars of flowers, or baked goods. It’s always best to see what the local restrictions are, but I see little tables set up along the sidewalk in town with loaves of bread, tomatoes, and even mini pies for sale. No matter where we live, we can bring some of the country right to our own front yard!
Krista Butters Davis says: Mary, this blog post is wonderful! I would love to have a farm fresh stand in the future. In the past my only extra item was zucchini lol! This year I am hoping to have a lot more with my expanded garden. Once I can officially figure out what my family needs and what I am able to can, then I can start considering a farm stand. I am so happy it has worked out great for you. Good luck with your cute store again this year.
Mary Murray says: Krista, thanks for making me smile, I’m so glad you enjoyed my “tons of tomatoes” adventure! Once you have your family’s food storage needs decided, your extra zucchini is a perfect way to start a sweet little stand. You don’t need to have oodles of variety to offer, you will be known as the farmgirl who has the best zucchini in town!
Staci D says: I love roadside stands. There’s something so sweet about them and it seems there is always something good!! Your ideas are wonderful, and your descriptions make them come alive in my mind as I read this post. I’m so happy for you that your “not shop” shop has worked out well. And your redecoration of the milkhouse looks great! Thanks for sharing on your blog that you are writing here. I just love reading any of your posts!
Mary Murray says: Staci, thank you so much for stopping by…truly, I’m always learning from you! There were days last year the “not shop” was quiet, but I’m hoping I learned what neighbors like best, and to focus on those items this year. Until then, the recipe testing continues…which is not the best thing for my waistline!
Dori Troutman says: Hi Mary!!
I love this post so much. Roadside farmstands are my favorite! The farmstand that my daughter and I have for our flower farm is such a hit for people… probably because it is honor system and just so quick and easy to stop, grab your flowers, and go. I love it.
Your photos are gorgeous!!! I love it all!
Hugs,
Dori
Mary Murray says: Hi Dori – Thanks for your kind words! I pinned an adorable photo of your farm fresh flower stand (LOVE the truck bed, it’s so clever!) long before I had the fun of “meeting” you here; what are the chances?! I agree…people like the idea of “grab & go” when they’re short on time. Some days I’ll set a dressed-up retro sink cabinet at the edge of the drive with baskets of veggies, but most often I stay in the milkhouse…it’s just fun to chat with folks!
Dori Troutman says: Oh that’s so cool!!! We were meant to know each other! :-).
I do like chatting with people when they get our flowers too! Usually each morning when we stock the flower stand, there are people waiting and it is always fun to chat a minute!
Cathy says: How wonderful! But lots of hard work with lots of satisfying results. WE do have a farm stand about a mile from us and I am always happy to see him open in the spring. He has gotten locals that want to sell some baked goods share a space in his stand.
a wonderful article and now I want one of my own lol.
Mary Murray says: Hi Cathy, I just have to keep learning what customers want most…although my kids will always eat any sweet treats left at the end of the day! (well, me too) So glad you have one nearby…it’s not only great for all of his friends & neighbors, it really helps support the seller. YOU can do it…your bread machine has been working overtime and you also have such lovely flowers! See what your local regulations are and give it a try…there’s no commitment, just whenever you want to…keep me posted!
Stepping outside to greet the days in April, it’s easy to tell the seasons are changing. Here in the Midwest, mornings are still cool and damp. However by midday, brisk breezes and warmth from the sun will have dried up the puddles found in fields and empty gardens. Drifting in through open windows and screen doors is my favorite scent – lilac. The old tree by the garden is covered with blooms that are just beginning to open; today I’ll take time to gather some and bring their fragrance inside. Pausing to listen carefully, I can hear the happy songs of the small peeper frogs in the woods just beyond the fields…they are the chorus that ushers in Spring!
Ladybug loves lilacs says: Lilacs are my most favorite flower and scent! They take me back to my childhood and time spent with my aunt. She filled the emptiness losing my grandma at an early age left in me. She had a huge lilac bush just outside her back door and it perfumed the whole house when she left the windows open. We use the same recipe for laundry detergent. I enjoy making my own cleaners. I have heard if there are carpenter bees around and you spray the undiluted orange and vinegar mixture on the places they like, for us it is a decorative wooden frame around our garage door, they will leave. We are giving that a try this year.
I love your beautiful quilt on the line. Did you make it?
Thank you for sharing your days!
Mary Murray says: Agreed! I love the scent, and it passes all too soon. I’m thinking I’ll plant some that bloom at different times so I can hold onto that fragrance just a little longer! Isn’t it amazing the memories lilacs can bring back? I have similar childhood memories that are close to my heart. Thanks for the tip about the vinegar/orange spray, let me know if it works for you! Thank you so much – the 9-patch quilt pattern is my favorite, but no, I didn’t make this one. I was lucky to find it at a local vintage shop and I just felt like it needed to come home with me!
Thanks so much for stopping by,
Mary
Debbie Fischer says: What a Beautiful Quilt and such a wonderful find.
I love the smell of Lilac and I miss my Lilac bush at my old house. So when I can find them I will buy a Lilac Candles to remind me of the bush and enjoy the scent throughout the house.
I have made the Laundry soap and it is great and yes I love cleaning with Vinegar but I certain will add some orange scent to it thank you for sharing the tip.
Thank you for another interesting column see you next month!
Mary Murray says: Hi Debbie, it’s great to find a vintage piece that “needs a home” especially when the price is just right. Oh I agree…there are some terrific lilac candles – that’s a really good way to bring Spring indoors! I hope you like the vinegar fragrance…I haven’t tried it, but I’ve seen lilac essential oil. I have tried lavender, peppermint, and hyacinth and really liked them. Let me know what you try…thanks for visiting!
Mary
Krista Butters Davis says: Your spring cleaning sounds like it’s off to a great start. I haven’t been very productive with mine quite yet, but I have cleared out a few shirts from my closet and passed them on to a friend. So it’s a start. My spring fever is in overdrive. I would love to start making my own laundry soap, but I haven’t moved onto that adventure yet. I have a bigger family with lots of laundry, so I worry about making a big mess out of it lol! I also use vinegar a lot with my cleaning, but I never thought to add another scent. I will have to give that a try sometime. Thanks for sharing some of your tips for cleaning.
Mary Murray says: Hi Krista, so glad to hear from you…I’ve been wanting to tell you how lovely the card was you sent for membership renewal…love the vintage look!
That’s okay…some days are better than others when it comes to the To-Do List, the days can get busy and they fly by. And passing your shirts on to a friend is a great start! If you try the laundry soap, drop me a note…truly, you’ll do just fine, the “hardest” part is finding a bowl big enough to stir it all up in!
Mary
Karen Martell says: I love the smell of lilacs! I have a Korean Lilac outside of my craft room window. The fragrance from the blooms, along with the sounds of little birds that land in the tree create a heavenly gift for the senses when the window is open, which is almost always while the tree is blooming. Thank you for a glimpse into your world! I may, too, need to find a buddy to keep me accountable in my spring cleaning. Thank you for sharing the recipes for the clothes soap and cleaner. 🙂
Smiles to you!
Mary Murray says: Thanks for your note, Karen! I just read up on the Korean Lilacs, they bloom after mine…just what I need so I can enjoy the fragrance even longer. I’ll see if I can find one locally, thanks for the tip! Yes, having a friend to keep me motivated is really helpful, some days I just need a little nudge…and it’s not a “Misery loves company” feeling, we’re echoing Rosie The Riveter: We Can Do It! You’re welcome for the recipes, they’re so simple to make, let me know if you try them.
Mary
Dori Troutman says: Hi Mary!!! I couldn’t love this post more!!! My favorite thing EVER is that enamelware pitcher and the cup!!! What an absolutely perfect thing for home-made laundry soap. It’s just the sweetest!
Oh… and that quilt! Sigh….
Hugs,
Dori
Mary Murray says: Thanks Dori! You’re so kind, thanks for cheering me on! I love it when I can find something vintage and the price is right…and that robin’s egg blue is my absolute favorite color! I’m lucky to have some shops nearby where the owners just want the items to find a good home…they’re the nicest folks. Thanks for visiting!
Mary
TheCrankyCrow says: What is it about lilacs that are so absolutely nostalgic? Their scent time travels me back to our family farm (that was my mother’s family’s before my mom and dad purchased it when my grandfather passed) in a whiff. The entire back yard was overgrown with them…a literal lilac jungle. I don’t have a jungle here but I do have several of the old fashioned ones, a dark French one, and a couple of Miss Kim’s/Korean ones. While I like the Korean ones for being blooming later – and being pink – they don’t seem as fragrant as the others. That quilt is just stunning – red and white quilts are my favorites. Spring cleaning hasn’t happened here yet…wish I had a buddy system for motivation like you do! Lovely post! ~Robin~
Mary Murray says: Robin, thanks for stopping to say Hi! Oh I would LOVE a lilac jungle…I’ll see if I can find a French Lilac to plant, thanks for letting me know you like that particular one. And I couldn’t agree more…lilacs take me back to my childhood and my grandmother’s home. For me, they have a fragrance that seems to bring back thoughts of sweeter, gentler times.
You can think of us as your buddy system for spring cleaning…rest assured that while you’re doing yours, we’re all doing exactly the same thing – chasing dust bunnies before they take over the house!
Mary
Billie Jo says: Hello, my friend. I could linger over this post for hours. Perhaps I will do so this afternoon! I love the photos and descriptions of spring in your world. And I also love all the tips and tricks you shared. I find myself wanting to choose natural cleaning products, which can be intimidating at first. So thank you for all the information and directions. Finally, I could not agree more. Few things are better than climbing into a cozy bed covered in freshly washed bedding! Have a cozy weekend.
Mary Murray says: Hi Billie Jo,
you’re so kind…thank you! Yes, start small on the natural cleaning products. The laundry soap is oh-so simple to make and you can make it just the way you want it with soap and scent bead fragrances. And we think alike…crisp, cool, fresh sheets to fall into after a long day – absolutely perfect! Thanks for stopping by…I appreciate it!
Hi to all the Farmgirl friends, I’m Mary and I’m so excited to be able to join the other Farmgirl Bloggers as your Rural Farmgirl!
Welcome to my corner of the world…a small farm in Ohio built in 1864. Originally a 160-acre cattle and sheep farm, as time passed it became a dairy farm, and then a horse farm. Now it’s home to goats and chickens, and with any luck, someday a pretty Jersey milk cow!
I was born and raised here in the Midwest, and much of that time was spent at my grandmother’s home. I have sweet memories of a little white house beside a grassy hill, bordered on one side by fragrant lilacs, with a meandering creek nearby. The woods along the top of the hill offered endless places to explore during the days, and each night the song of the whippoorwills would sing us to sleep. My grandmother tended a large garden and made the most wonderful bread and rolls. In early fall, rows of canning jars were lined up, each filled with the summer’s harvest such as dilly green tomatoes, bread & butter pickles, and hot peppers. Even though I spent most of my growing-up years in the suburbs, her country home always holds a special place in my heart.
Fast forward, a few years after college I was working in a bustling downtown city, when one day I stepped outside to clear my mind. It was then I spotted a single flower growing in a broken section of concrete. Somehow, in the shadows of the high-rise buildings and noisy surroundings, this lovely flower was blooming. That sharp contrast was all I needed, it was time for a change.
It was in that hectic corporate world that I first discovered MaryJanesFarm. A friend shared a copy of the Artists in Aprons issue and immediately I was hooked. There it was in writing: Farmgirl isn’t so much a place, as it is a frame of mind – no matter where we are, we can be connected to solid values and things we love. I kept that in mind while I began to dream.
Still holding onto those memories of my grandmother’s home, the search began for an old farmhouse near a small town. It seemed like endless Saturdays were spent on winding country roads looking at homes for sale. Finally, an 1864 farmhouse on 10 acres was available. Yes, it needed quite a bit of renovation, but with mahogany and red oak woodwork, I was pulled in by the craftsmanship of another time. Soon changes began – shag carpet came up and flocked wallpaper came down. While there’s still much I want to do, the uneven floors, tiny closets, and even the tree trunks in the basement that help support the main floor (yes, I’m serious!) don’t bother me. I just smile and see it as a house with “character.” Round it out with some goats, chickens, bees, gardens, and family, then it becomes Home.
I love simple things…old houses and wooden barns, tying on an apron for Sunday dinner, barn sales & county fairs, roadside stands, porch swings, and handed-down quilts. Most Saturday afternoons you’ll find me in the milkhouse selling baked goods, jams, and garden vegetables to friends & neighbors.
I’m so glad to meet you! The next time you stop by you may find a new recipe, ideas for upcycling, or travel a country road with me. Whatever it is, I hope you’ll find something you enjoy and leave feeling inspired!
HAZEL SODER says: I LOVED READING YOUR STORY. IT IS INSPIRING AND DESCRIBES A LIFE STYLE VERY FEW SEEM TO HAVE NOW DAYS. I GREW UP ON A SMALL FARM WITH CHICKENS, DUCKS, AND A MILK COW. MY PARENTS ALWAYS HAD A BIG GARDEN AND MY MOTHER CANNED PICKLES, TOMATOES, MADE JELLY AND FROZE A LOT OF VEGETABLES TOO. WE HAD A CITRUS GROVE SO THERE WERE FRESH ORANGES AND GRAPEFRUIT TO ENJOY TOO. ALL OF THAT IS GONE NOW, AND I’M A RETIRED TEACHER. MY HUSBAND AND I STILL PLANT VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDENS. IT IS SIMPLY A WAY OF LIFE WITH US.
Mary Murray says: Hi Hazel, thanks for your kind words! It sounds like you grew up on a lovely farm – and fresh citrus too, wow! That’s the kind of life I think so many are dreaming of, families want room for kids to run, a few animals, and learn to grow their own food. I love that it’s “simply a way of life” and I’m sure others are learning so much from all you do!
Mary
Dori Troutman says: Oh Mary!!! This is the sweetest introduction ever! It makes me want to just jump in the car and drive to Ohio to visit you! So happy to have you in our Farmgirl blogger family and I can’t wait for your post next month!
Hugs,
Dori (Ranch Farmgirl)
Mary Murray says: Dori, it’s been a joy to “meet” you! You’ve made me feel so welcome and cheered me on as I learned how to set up my first post. I’ve loved reading all the farmgirl blogger posts over the years, and now I need to pinch myself to believe I can be part of the fun!
Mary
Krista Butters Davis says: Mary, it’s so wonderful to meet you! It was lovely reading your story and getting to know you. We live in the country now, but I dream of owning more land and more cows. Your house and land sound simply perfect. And I love the part about the tree trunks. I look forward to reading your next post and seeing what else you have to share!
Mary Murray says: Hi Krista, it’s so nice to have you stop by and say Hi! I keep dreaming of things, too, I’m always plotting, planning, making lists, and saving photo inspiration. And if I could go back in time, I would LOVE to ask a previous homeowner about those tree trunks!
Mary
Ladybug loves lilacs says: Mary, it’s lovely to meet you and hear your story. We had a small farm in NJ for 21 years and then the children moved away and we pulled up stakes and came to Ohio to be near our daughter and family. We are still looking for our dream place to live in the country again.
Mary Murray says: A fellow Buckeye – welcome to Ohio! It’s so nice that you’re near your family, it sounds like my story. My in-laws moved to be closer when the kids were young, and they had lived on a 100-acre farm, so it was quite a change. It was great having them close, my kids could spend lots of time with them and we could get together at a minute’s notice for dinner or a cookout. You’ll find the place that’s meant for you, I’m sure of it!
Mary
Debbie Fischer says: Hi Mary how wonderful to meet you and sharing your farm life with us. I am anxious to hear more, see photos of all you animal and try recipes you share.
Have a beautiful Spring.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie Fischer
#1582
Mary Murray says: Hi Debbie, thanks for the warm welcome and for sending Spring wishes! Spring hasn’t quite sprung here yet; it’s cold, windy, and there’s very little green sprouting. But before I know it, I’ll be spending my days outdoors trying to keep up with all that needs doing! For me, handed-down recipes are the best…I’ll be happy to pass along my favorites. If you try them, be sure to let me know!
Mary
Heather Neeper says: Welcome – from another Ohio sister 🙂 It was wonderful to meet you and I look forward to reading your future posts. I’m a true blue farmgirl – my husband and I have a small dairy farm and an old farmhouse LOL! I also love to garden, cook from scratch, and all the simple things that you mentioned, so I have a feeling I’m going to love sipping some tea and reading your posts.
Mary Murray says: Yay, another Buckeye Farmgirl, so nice to meet you Heather – and you’re on a dairy farm…I would love that! Thanks for the kind words…I hope you’ll find something here each month that you enjoy. It’s terrific that no matter where we all live, we can share ideas and inspiration across the miles!
Mary
Sandy says: I did not grow up on a farm. I married a farmer! My knowledge of growing things is still not enough to feed a family! I make up for it by my pure appreciation and love of everything country and farm related. I am the keeper of the family stories. Our daughter and her family live on the small piece of farm land that is left in the family. I am happy quilting and collecting on my 3.5 acres with just a dog and her Daddy to take care of.
Mary Murray says: Hi Sandy, Thanks for stopping by, it’s good to get to know you! Being a keeper of the family stories is so important…passing that history on is a great way to connect the generations. Quilting and collecting…such terrific farmgirl talents, I’m so happy to meet you,
Mary
Cheryl Stanley says: Mary, things sound wonderful where you are. I live south of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am a transplant from Georgia and I love the weather here. Can’t wait to read more from you.
Mary Murray says: Cheryl, so good to have you visit – I’ve been to Fort Wayne many times…you’re practically a farmgirl neighbor! I’m sure the weather and scenery are so different from Georgia, and it’s good to hear you’re settling in and loving the Midwest weather (the seasons are oh-so pretty). Thanks again for leaving me a welcome note,
Mary
daisy says: What a lovely story of your awakening. So grateful to have found your blog and now another place to enjoy your writing. Blessings to you from the Piedmont of NC!
Mary Murray says: Hi Daisy, it’s so nice of you to stop by! It’ll be fun to share what you’re doing in NC with all the other farmgirls…no matter where we live, it’s great to find new ideas we can try in our own gardens and homes. Thanks again!
Mary
Betsy Cronin says: Hi Mary and it is so nice to make your acquaintance! I love your story as it is similar to mine. We lived in the city for the longest time…looking for that special property where I could make farm girl living a reality! We found a restored 1754 farmhouse on 4 acres two years ago. Lots of work to be done but I have never felt more at peace in my 58 years 💕
Mary Murray says: Hi Betsy…so glad your dream came true! Wow, a 270-year old farmhouse, that’s amazing. I’m sure there are so many wonderful, old details that make it special…any trees in your basement?! Oh, if the walls could talk and tell the stories. I’m glad to you feel at peace there…that’s just as it should be.
Mary
Billie Jo says: Hello, my friend! What a lovely introduction that enabled me to learn more about you. I love your story and am so very happy you are living your dream! I am looking forward to many more visits here with you!
Mary Murray says: Hi Billie Jo, thank you so much for visiting here! My childhood in the country definitely shaped who I am – sweet memories of many simple things, that I later learned were truly the important things. I see that when I visit your blog…snapshots of family celebrating all their joys together. Thanks again for stopping by!
Mary
TheCrankyCrow says: Beautiful glimpse into your world and soul. I grew up on a farm very much like your grandmother’s I would say. It had been in my mother’s family for generations and when my grandfather died, my mum and dad purchased it and it became my permanent home. I was 3 then. All these years later, it lives in me. You’re right, “farmgirl” isn’t referring to a place, but a part of your heart…and soul. ~Robin~
Mary Murray says: Hi Robin, thank you for taking the time to visit me here. I LOVE that the farm has been handed down through the generations…that speaks of a special “something” that tugs at the heart. Oh the memories you must have growing up there, and to be able to share those with your own family! You’ve inspired me…it’s several hours away, but I should drive by my grandmother’s old home…while it may not look like my 10-year-old self remembers it, I should show it to my son & daughter so they can feel a part of that family history as well. Thanks, Robin!
Mary
Happy New Year, Farmgirls!
It’s been awhile; and while so much has happened, much is still the same. I hope this finds you all well after a successful and joyful holiday season. This was the first holiday season for our family of 6 (after Covid derailed it all last year), and it was a wonderful couple of weeks with lots of family time, food and, of course, gift giving.
Nova loves the holidays!
Karen Holderman says: I am glad you did not have a lot of damage. I can’t imagine those winds! Here in Chesapeake, Virginia, we had 50 mile an hour winds last week during a rain storm. My suburban hens hunkered down in their run. However we do have many snowmen arms all over the yard. I love your use for broken branches. There are pine cones all over. I guess opportunities for crafting. I pray for those who lost green houses, had frozen pipes and more. Community is everything.
Finding joy and satisfaction in each day is a goal I will look forward to. Our children should be treasured daily. Thank you for sharing.
Alexandra Wilson says: I know our community will step up and take care of everyone! We are waiting for a little “warm” snap next week to see if there are opportunities for the little ones to lend a hand. Yes–our children should be treasured daily!
I stumbled on your blog this morning….so enjoyed it! Mary Janes Farm was a magazine I read years ago and enjoyed. Best wishes to you and your sweet family. Thank you for a reminder to slow down this busy life a bit and enjoy each and every day. Thanks again!
Alexandra Wilson says: Welcome, Tess! Hope you find some time to relax and enjoy in the New Year!
So Happy to here from you. Have loved your blog from the very first one, to baby #1 2 3 and now four. Hope this is a wonderful year for you and yours. Love Light and gratefulness.
Donna
Alexandra Wilson says: Wow, thanks, Donna. It’s pretty awesome to think of the people who have been on this journey with me since the beginning. Cheers to you in this New Year. Sending you love!
This is beautiful – both the content and the pictures. I am going to try to forward this to my daughter and daughter in law, who live in Florida as I do. The world is not made up of just the area in which we live, and it is good to see another area and therefore another perspective. Thank you
Alexandra Wilson says: So true, Joyce! Thanks for sharing. Hope you and yours are well!
Laura says: Your home looks like a cozy, safe nest!
I remember fondly the break between the old year and the new, when my girls and I were free from our normal schedule.
I’m glad you and your family are safe and I hope your community survives the next round of bad weather. Keep up the good work and your humorous way of looking at life!
take care,
laura
Six degrees in Indiana today. My people and my chickens are all tucked in, safe & warm!
Alexandra Wilson says: Oh, that sounds cold for Indiana, Laura! Winter break is my favorite of vacations–a time to slow down with our loves. Thanks for checking in!
Enjoyed reading your article and wishin you best year ahead filled with many blessings. Take care and may God bless your sweet family…..
Alexandra Wilson says: Thank you, Michelle! Sending blessings your way, as well.
Joanie Hendricks says: I’m glad you made it through that windstorm! I’m surprised we didn’t hear anything about it down south here in Washington state. We are just coming out of three weeks of snow that started on Christmas. More snow than we usually see here, and for a much longer time. It did serve the purpose of slowing life down so I had a really long reset. Our adult children were here for some of the time, and it was just lovely. Everyone got home safely, and I managed to get 2 of them to the ferry dock and back. That was 13 days ago. I haven’t left since! We’ve had a power outage that lasted several days and is over now. US Highway 101 was closed on Hood Canal where I live for 3 days while fallen trees and power lines and poles were repaired. We spent a lot of time helping neighbors and checking on property for people who weren’t here. Now I am just waiting for the 18 inches of snow to melt. It’s too wet for snowshoes any more! I will always remember this glorious Christmastime, though!
Alexandra Wilson says: That sounds pretty magical, Joanie! I saw that you got a ton of snow down there. Normal wind speeds up here are newswrothy in other places, so it’s no surprise that this storm wasn’t broadcast elsewhere. I’m glad to hear you made the most of your snowy holiday!
Brenda Cervantes says: Thank you for sharing. Love the kiddos pics. I am older and there are no children around. I miss playing with children. They really know how to have fun!
Be well and safe!!
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Brenda! Yes, I love seeing kids in the snow. Ava (almost 8) and Opal (6) are getting into prime kid time! They can spend hours outside in the coldest weather in their own world. Love it.
Sandi King says: Alex, wow! is all I can say. What with the wind blowing so hard, it is a wonder more damage wasn’t done. When the wind blows here, which it has for many, many, days now, but not real strong, but it is cold – our temps are now 15 degrees – warm compared to other parts of the country, but cold for us as it has been many years we have had warm winters and I was always hoping for a colder and snowier winter like we used to get years ago. We do have snow, but on Christmas it was warm and no snow and I was worried we would have another warm winter, but so glad to see snow once again. So glad you all were not damaged as so many others were. I love the pics of the children out in the snow, reminds me of my childhood. I lived in NY and we had close to 4 or 5 foot of snow and we made tunnels and forts and had so much fun. Take care and hope this year will be better than 2019 and 2020.
Alexandra Wilson says: Hi Sandi! Yes fingers crossed this year is better. I can’t help but feel kinship with anyone who hopes for cold and snow. I hope your winds die down and the snow accumulates!
Sharon says: Appreciate your point of view: the reflecting, regrouping, moving forward. Also your mentioning that disastrous times can remind us of the goodness in people as they show up to aid those less fortunate than they. So much of the current news is filled with just the opposite!
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Sharon! Emergencies do have a tendency to remind us of what is truly important. Maybe some day we can more readily remember that more often without the disaster element.
Amanda says: I was smiling as I was reading about your holiday celebrations and then BAM! things took a turn! Regarding the holidays, we also lay out a snack type buffet. It’s just way more relaxed that way (while waiting for families to do barn chores, milk cows, dump peeps-yes we got two houses of chicks Christmas Eve night- etc) and we get to enjoy each others company for a longer stretch of the day. Here in PA we just got our first snowfall and it looks nothing like where you live!!! I’m really hoping that everyone comes out of that okay! Those pictures were really something! Blessings to you all!
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Amanda! Fortunately, it sounds like everyone is coming out of the storm okay. The community is really coming together to clean up and dig out. The snack buffet is the best! It really allows for more family time which I have been craving.
Marji McDonald says: As a neighbor a couple of hundred miles north of you, we also have experienced this winter’s fury. The 3 back to back snowstorms with 2 inches of rain in the mix turned our 20 inches of snow into rock hard ice trapping us at home. We waited patiently for the man with the loader to come and dig out our road. Being trapped at home for 2 weeks really gave me time to think about days before loaders, electricity or what I would do if I couldn’t go to a grocery store for milk. I sent a prayer to the lineman out restoring power. I was grateful we had a wood stove and lots of chopped wood. Summer garden produce stored and a well stocked cupboard. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies keeps the house smelling wonderful. It’s wonderful to hear that your family has done so well and always love your post with the kids enjoying our life here in the far north. I think of the great “reset” as the “re-learning” on how to experience our daily lives in the moment. Your family is doing a great job understanding that concept.
Breakup will be here just in time! So with that said, Happy New Year and Solstice blessings to you and your beautiful family.
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Marji! Our state has gotten battered this winter! That rain on top of all of that snow was worrisome. I’m so glad you got dug out and were prepared for the long haul. I did not put up much last summer, but luckily had a well stocked pantry. I figured we would stay put up here until the storm was over…didn’t need to be causing any more problems in town!
We were looking at pictures from summer the other day and said to ourselves, “oh yeah! summer is a thing :).”
Marilyn says: Thank You for this interesting post. Glad you are all safe and did not receive too much damage. Wishing Opal a year of happiness and blessings. God Bless.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPAL
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Alexandra Wilson says: Thank you Joan, Marion and Marilyn! Happy New Year to you, too!
Laura says: Hi Alexandra,
Happy to see you back and get a glimpse into your full and rich rural life in Alaska. I have been reading since before your children, so I am always so interested in seeing what you are up to with your precious, creative, and lively family.
I was thinking today how you are like a favorite character in a book series that I read. So it is like I get a new chapter or episode to look forward to when I see your new blog posts. I hope you keep them coming, as your refreshing and reflective attitude and creative celebrations are certainly inspiring.
Greetings from the east side of the country,
Laura
Alexandra Wilson says: Gosh, Laura, you have me tearing up. What a meaningful and powerful note. Thank you! I will be writing seasonally this year. Four kids is a lot of work, but I love to write so we are trying to find a low stress balance. Thanks, again!
Janet Kynerd says: It is good to have you back. I have missed you, your family, and your reports from Alaska. Glad to know everyone is healthy again.
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Janet! We are all doing well aside from the normal kid crud that circulates. I will be posting seasonally! Looking forward to keeping in touch.
Dear Alex,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and events of the past several weeks. I really enjoyed your post–except that I am sorry about the damaging weather for your community. Stay safe and stay warm!
Tammy
Alexandra Wilson says: Hi Tammy,
Thanks! Our community is rallying and helping each other out. There were no major injuries or losses, so it’s looking good.
Alexandra Wilson says: We have enough pressure already, right? Hope all is well with you!
Hello Farmgirls!
Whew, it’s already decidedly autumnal here. How has this summer been for you? It has gone by lightning fast for us. We have been busy with many visitors and an ever more energetic group of kids. Of course, after a year of being apart from some of the people we love the most, it was amazing to see grandparents, cousins, siblings, and friends. My mom celebrated her 70th birthday and we were able gather and celebrate. It was one of those parties that ended up being even better than we imagined it could be. My brother and sister in law went all out with the “70” decorations—balloons, yard signs, candles, the whole shebang. We are not a decorate-for-birthdays kind of family, so it was very fun!
Cousins visited and played in the tundra
Congrats on your run. Your family is just beautiful. Fall has arrived in the Colorado high country and it’s a beautiful time of year (any time is).
Alexandra Wilson says: Thank you! Colorado is full of beauty. I would love to get there in the fall sometime.
Susan says: I have a new address. The old one gets too much mail i cant get to it all. So its why im rearranging things and updating as im ending old email addy because i get too much junk on that old email.. But im keeping you guys. I hope i hear from you all on the new one.
To help you get rid of the slimy slugs…save your egg shells and put them on top of your soil and also pour some gritty sand or salt on top of the soil where slugs are. You will find they die out after a few years. They cant stand to crawl on the soil. I stopped eating berries because they attached themselves to the berry. I lost an appetite for them. But i was told if you pour salt on the berries then set the berries in the sink and pour water over them, the slimy bastards abd their babies will rise to the top of the bowl and wash away as you run water over them to wash away the salt. They will run off the top in the bowel and go down the drain. Then you can lift your calendar up and rinse the remaining salt off the berries. Susan
Alexandra Wilson says: “Slimy bastards” made me LOL :). Thanks for the tips! We do have plenty of egg shells, so I can easily utilize this advice. Your salt trick reminds of salting leeches as a kid. It was oddly satisfying! I now have a strange love of popping slug eggs. Also oddly satisfying.
Marilyn says: Glad you had a nice Summer. Happy birthday to your mother. May she have many more. God Bless. Your girls re beautiful and getting so big. Here on the East coast we had a few tropical storms and or Hurricanes. The Autumn weather has not arrived here yet. Enjoy the Autumn.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Alexandra Wilson says: Hello Marilyn! Yes, the east coast has been getting battered. I hope you are all unscathed…and that autumn arrives soon! Autumn on the east coast is so gorgeous.
Prudence says: Wow, Alex, I love your writing and, especially, your thinking. Congrats on the run!
Prudy
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Prudy! I truly appreciate your compliments!
Maureen says: Oh, my golly! The mud facial picture made me laugh out loud. My favorite thing about a family camping trip was my set of “mud puppies”. (Children). Congrats on finishing that marathon, so many more in the future. Enjoy!
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Maureen! I love her stoic expression. Nothing better on a summer day for kids!
What a wonderful tribute to your life! So glad to hear you are getting out on your own to run. So needed. You are an amazing mom and person, and your girls and husband are lucky to have you!
Thanks for sharing. Hope we can come up some summer soon!
Love you all,
Kay Ruh
Alexandra Wilson says: Thanks, Aunt Kay! Miss you 🙂
Mary Rauch says: Your post was so adorable….I especially enjoyed Nova taking his rightful place at the top of his rock mountain. Can you see the face of a white doggie on the side of that rock?…my imagination is working overtime. I cannot figure out how to isolate the image and send it back to you?
Alexandra Wilson says: I think I see it?! You have a great imagination!
Brood (noun): a family of young animals, especially of a bird, produced at one hatching or birth.
(verb): think deeply about something that makes one unhappy.
(noun, informal): all of the children in a family.
From the Old English brod: “to breed”.
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few kids who have grown up on small scale farms. A favorite activity is often–“How many mouths are there to feed on our farm?” Even on a small farm, these numbers can add up! A couple acre plot with chickens, ducks, pigs, a horse or cow or two, dogs, kids, cats…even if the animals have a lot of space, can already be in the hundreds-of-mouths-to-feed territory. The count can be especially high if the counters try to estimate numbers of bees in a hive or worms in the vermipost bin.
Kiki/Hana Gana/Shadow–My favorite hen
DEBORAH VAN SCOY says: It was of great joy I received and read the story of your “Brood”❤️ Such a lovely family you have. There is no better way to raise your precious children than on your family “MiniFarm”. I so much look forward to the next chapter. Grama Debbie
Michelle says: Loved this!
Hubby & I with Daisy and Lillie Mae, Llama Mama and around 30 Dorper Sheep, Painted Buntings, no chicks, been there done that, hehe. Enjoying our farm/ranch life and all that comes with that. Identifying wildflowers on our walks for exercise on our beautiful Texas ranch. Loving each day as it comes and glad Summer is here 🙂
Sandi King says: Wow, Alex, I love this post of yours. It brings back memories of my life on the farm, albeit, it was more of a garden farm, not an animal farm, though we had chickens, a young calf, dogs and cats and a large garden. Another place I lived after getting married was on a hog farm, where I fed the hogs for the owner in return for living in a small house there with an outdoor toilet, and actual running water in the house which was only 2 rooms, a bedroom where we all slept, and a kitchen area. I had two pets I named Sam and Sarah which were part of the hog farm and these two hogs followed me around whenever I was outdoors and feeding the rest – I carried 5 gallon buckets of feed and water to them daily, and my two followers would eat my dogs food whenever he was fed, unless I closed the gate to the yard and kept them out. Sarah was a small pig and Sam a large boar but they were always together and didn’t hang out with the larger hogs. They were allowed to run freely out side the fenced area. I had enjoyed this place for over a year, but we then moved back into town. Missed Sam and Sarah a great deal. I hope you are able to gather more chickens and maybe some other farm animals of choice in the near future. Country life is the best life. God Bless
Karen Pennebaker says: I agree that animals are great for kids…my older granddaughter fell in love with goats the first time she ever saw one…she has had goats for 18 years…first, as 4-H project animals and now a herd of Saanan and Nigerian dairy goats that she takes to shows…she works at a “real job” to pay for her creatures…she also has a lot of dogs…I had chickens until a man I know lost his and needed some…mine were old, the 6 old hens were not laying many eggs, so I offered them to him and he was grateful to have them. Maybe next spring I’ll get more, but I can buy good farm eggs a few miles down the road for less than the cost of chicken feed…lol…so there are 30 goats here and 7 dogs, plus all the local wild life…the birds and chipmunks share the sunflower seeds that I put out for them…and the dogs chase away the coyotes!
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
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.”
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!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
This was a great time to read about your canning, freezing, drying, and putting in food. I have done so much of all, I haven’t done any of it. With me in a recent brain injury (2 years ago), I read what you do, and it remembers of the things I can do, and the woman who is showing how to do, it’s an inspiration to go forward. Thank you so much for your everyday life. Mary Murray, God bless you!
Hi Ginny, it’s great to meet you! Thanks for your kind words…I definitely didn’t learn all this overnight, it’s taken a few years and I had some terrific teachers along the way. If you’re thinking you’d like to “put by” a few things, start by keeping it easy: setting aside boxes of pasta and rice is a great way to begin, tossing a few extra items in the freezer, and stocking up when markets have sales are good ways to be ready for power outages or if bad weather keeps trucks from making grocery store deliveries. Keep it simple and make it work for you! Thanks again for your kind words, Ginny, let me know how you’re coming along! Mary
You sure can make hard work look beautiful. 😉 My mother was the queen of the harvest I swear…and after growing up and being enlisted to help, I swore it off LOL. (Well, with school and then career and family, I truly didn’t have a spare moment. I did start canning a bit later (in my world, that’s what we called it – “canning” or “harvesting”) but limited it to canning tomatoes and green beens, freezing things and drying herbs. I still am shy around pressure canners after a bit of a mishap with one when I was young… In any event, I loved seeing your stores – reminds me of home and life as I once knew it. ~Robin~
Hi Robin! Thanks for always stopping by and taking time to drop a note.
One of the best things I’ve ever heard is, “Yes, you can do it all, just not all at the same time.” There are seasons to our lives, and we can’t put in a 60-hour work week and can tomatoes every day. We want to, I know, but it’s just not possible. And that’s okay…canning those tomatoes and green beans, freezing and drying herbs now surely brings back sweet memories of your mom. And I’m cautious with pressure cookers as well…I’m one of those that checks, double-checks, and then checks again! I’m glad you liked the post…just the tales of an old-fashioned soul who’s trying to remember the simple pleasures in this hectic world we live in. Thanks again, Robin!